Humidifier

ABSTRACT

A humidifier having a belt, means for moisturizing the belt, means for moving air against the belt and delivering air moisturized thereby to the ambient atmosphere, and means for selectively driving the belt a whenever the air moving means is operated, or b continuously.

United States Patent [151 3,671,023

Seil I 51 June 20, 1972 541 HUMIDIFIER 1,976,401 10/1934 llg ..26l/803,370,403 2/1968 DElia etal.. ....261/80 [721 Invent w'seflsrayslake'm'2,421,557 6/1947 Haniquet.... ....26l/80 [73] Assignee: Cory Corporation3,339,902 9/1967 Martin..... ....261/80 3,328,941 7/1967 Green ..26l/80[22] Filed: Feb. 12, 1 970 [21] Appl.No.: 10,814 Primary Examiner-Tim R.Miles Attorney-Hofg'ren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord 52 us. (I261/26, 261/80 7 mm 23 351; r,111;.33:31:33:3:11:15::J:JJJJ:3:333:52?75238 A humidifier having a meansfor mom s the means for moving air against the belt anddelivering air[56] References Cited moisturized thereby to the ambient atmosphere, andmeans for selectively driving the belt 0 whenever the air moving UNITSTATES PATENTS means is operated, or b continuously.

2,295,233 9/ l 942 Mosher ..261/80 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1. Fieldof the Invention Thisinvention relates to humidifiers. and in particularto huing means. The exposed portions of the belt when the apparatus isshut down tend to dry out and deposits of salts dissolved in themoisturizing water are left on the belt tending to cake. Such drying andcaking causes a relatively rapid degradation of the belting requiringrelatively frequent servicing of the apparatus.

One solution to the problem is to provide means for driving the belt atall times thereby preventing such drying and caking. Thissolution hasthe obvious disadvantage of precluding the controlled operation of thebelt affording optimum functioning of the apparatus possible where themoisturizing liquid is freeor has only a low concentration of suchsalts. Further, discontinuation of the driving of the belt may bedesired for other reasons, such as avoiding the sound of operationthereof in certain environments, etc.

SUMMARY or THE lNVENTION The present invention comprehends an improvedhumidifier apparatus including means for selectively driving the belt awhenever the air moving means is operated, or b continuously.

More specifically, the invention comprehends such a humidifier apparatuswherein the means for selectively driving the belt includes a selectorswitch. Alternatively, the means I for selectively driving the belt mayinclude means for disconnecting the belt driving means from thehumidifier. Illustratively, the disconnecting means may comprise aconnector electrically connected to the belt driving motor and a pair ofconnectors electrically connected in the control circuit of thehumidifier whereby the desired selective operation of the belt drivingmeans is obtained by selective connection of the first connector toeither of the two second connectors.

The humidifier may further include means for operating the air movingmeans at different speeds independently of the belt driving means. i

The humidifer may further include means for maintaining operation of thehumidifier apparatus notwithstanding a lack of moisturizing liquidwhereby the apparatus may further serve as a fan means independentlyofits moisturizing functioning. The belt means may be selectively operatedwhile the humidifier apparatus is operated as a fan means thereby tofunction as an air filtering means at such times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a schematic vertical section of a humidifier embodying theinvention; I

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 22 ofHO. 1'; i

FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the control circuitrythereof; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating a modified controlcircuitry thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the exemplary embodiment ofthe invention as disclosed in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing, a humidifiergenerally designated 10 is shown to comprise a housing 11 defining aninternal apparatus space 12 in which is mounted an air movin'g meanscomprising fan 13, a container 14 for holding moisturizing liquid, suchas water W, and a flexible humidification supply means comprising a belt15 turned over suitable pulleys l6 and I7. Belt 15 is a driven by asuitable motor 18 to move through a preselected path extendingdownwardly into the container 14 and forwardly of fan 13. Themoisturizing water W absorbed by the belt as it passes through container14 is dispersed into the stream of air delivered by fan 13 through afront grille 19 for providing humidified air to the ambient atmosphere.Operation of the humidifier is controlled by a conventional humidistat20 so that operation of fan 13 is effected only when the humidityconditions of the ambient atmosphere drop below a preselected levelcalling for delivery of moisturized air from the humidifier. Where thehumidity conditions are quite low a high speed operation of fan 13 maybe effected by means of a selector switch 21. Where the humidifyingrequirements are not severe, switch 21 may be set to operate fan 13 at alow speed as desired. Heat may be provided under the control of asuitable switch 22, the actuation of switch 22 being indicated by asuitable indicator light 23.

A float control generally designated 24 may be provided having a float25 movable with the level L of the water W in the container 14. Float 25is carried on a suitable arm 26 of control 24 to effect operationthereof in controlling the operation of the humidifier. Control 24 maybe provided with an indicating lamp 27 for indicating an empty conditionin the container 14 thereby to notify the user of the need to replenishthe moisturizing liquid. Control 24 may include a suitable electricswitch 28 operated by control arm 26 to effect the desired control ofthe humidifier.

As indicated briefly above, apparatus 10 permits the selec tive controlof belt motor 18 so as to permit the alternative continuous operation ofthe belt motor or the operation of the belt motor only when the fan isoperating. More specifically, as seen in FIGS. 1 and *3, the belt motormay-be electrically connected into the control circuit generallydesignated 29 by means of a first, male connector 30 and a pair ofsecond,

female connectors 31 and 32. As best seen in FIG. 3, power may beprovided to the humidifier 10 from power supply leads L and L One sideof connector 31 is connected to power supply lead L and the other sideis connected to power supply lead L Thus, when connector 30 is pluggedinto connector 31, belt motor 18 is continuously operated.

One side of connector 32 is connected to power supply lead L and theother side is connected to between humidistat 20 and fan motor 13. Theother side of fan motor 13 is energized from power supply lead I.through selector switch 21 which may comprise a single throw, doublepole switch having moving contact 21a connected to power supply lead Land fixed contacts 21b and 210 connected to the different speed windingsof the fan motor 13. One side of an electrical heater 33 is connected topower supply lead L and the other side is connected through a singlepole, single throw switch 22 to between humidistat 20 and fan motor 13.Heater indicator lamp 23 is connected in parallel with heater 33.

32, the belt motor is effectively connected in parallel with. the

fan motor 13 and heater 33. Thusly connected, belt motor 18 is operatedconcurrently with the fan motor under the normal control of thehumidifier control 29. Thus, when the humidistat cycles fan motor 13, itwill concurrently cycle belt moto 18.

Switch 34 permits continued operation of the fan motor and belt motornotwithstanding an absence of moisturizing liquid from container 14 asswitch 34 effectively bypasses the float switch 28 to connect thehumidistat directly to power supply lead L,. Switch 34, however, willcycle the fan motor and belt motor in accordance with the humidityconditions of the ambient atmosphere and, thus, does not necessarilycause a continuous operation of belt motor 18 unless the humidityconditions remain sufficiently low to maintain humidistat 20 in theclosed circuit condition.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a modified form of control circuit generallydesignated 129 is shown to comprise a control circuit generally similarto control circuit 29 except that the selective connecting means 30, 31and 32 are replaced by a single pole, double throw selector switch 135having a moving contact 135a connected to power supply lead 1.. throughthe belt motor 18. The switch includes a first, fixed contact 135bconnected to between the humidistat 20 and the fan motor 13. A second,fixed contact 1350 of switch 135 is connected to the other power supplylead L Thus, manipulation of switch 135 to throw moving contact 135ainto contact with fixed contact 135: causes a continuous operation ofthe belt motor 18 in a manner similar to the connection of belt motor 18through connectors 30 and 31. Alternatively, when contact 135a is throwninto contact with fixed contact 135b, operation of the belt motor 18 inparallel with fan motor 13 is effected similarly to the operation ofcontrol 29 when connector 30 is connected to connector 32 thereof. Inall other respects, control 129 is similar to and functions similarly tocontrol 29.

Thus, the invention comprehends an improved humidifier apparatus whereinthe problem of drying of belt 15 and the caking of deposited saltsthereof is effectively eliminated. Further, the invention permitssubstantially instant full humidification upon initiation of the fan 13.Thus, operation of the humidifier with a partially dry filter belt 15 iseffectively precluded. By maintaining the flexible belt in a flexiblecondition at all times, maintenance of the apparatus is effectivelyminimized. The present invention comprehends a simple and economicalconstruction while yet providing the highly desirable advantagesdiscussed above.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

1 claim:

1. A humidifier apparatus comprising: flexible humidifica tion supplymeans; air moving means for transferring moisture from saidhumidification supply means to the ambient atmosphere including meansflexing said humidification supply means; and electrical control meansselectively disposable for alternatively causing said flexing means toflex said humidification supply means only when the humidificationsupply means is transferring moisture from said humidification supplymeans to the ambient atmosphere or at all times, said flexing meanscomprising electrically operated means and said control means includinga first connector electrically connected to said flexing means and apair of second connectors electrically connected in said control meansarranged to provide manual control of said alternative functioning as aresult of connecting said first connector alternatively to either ofsaid second connectors.

2. In a humidifier having a belt, and means for moisturizing said belt,means for moving air against said belt and delivering air moisturizedthereby to the ambient atmosphere, and means including an electric motorand an electrical control for controlling the operation of thehumidifier for selectively driving the belt (a) only whenever the airmoving means is operated, or (b) continuously, said control meansincluding means for electrically disconnecting the belt driving meansfrom the humidifier comprising a connector electrically connected tosaid motor and sep ar ably connected to said control.

3. The humidifier apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control meanscomprises a male plug connected to said motor, a first female socketconnected between power supply leads of the control for causingcontinuous operation of said motor upon energization of said control,with said plug connected to said first socket, and a second femalesocket connected in said controlfor causing operation of said motor onlywhen said air

1. A humidifier apparatus comprising: flexible humidification supplymeans; air moving means for transferring moisture from saidhumidification supply means to the ambient atmosphere including meansflexing said humidification supply means; and electrical control meansselectively disposable for alternatively causing said flexing means toflex said humidification supply means only when the humidificationsupply means is transferring moisture from said humidification supplymeans to the ambient atmosphere or at all times, said flexing meanscomprising electrically operated means and said control means includinga first connector electrically connected to said flexing means and apair of second connectors electrically connected in said control meansarranged to provide manual control of said alternative functioning as aresult of connecting said first connector alternatively to either ofsaid second connectors.
 2. In a humidifier having a belt, and means formoisturizing said belt, means for moving air against said belt anddelivering air moisturized thereby to the ambient atmosphere, and meansincluding an electric motor and an electrical control for controllingthe operation of the humidifier for selectively driving the belt (a)only whenever the air moving means is operated, or (b) continuously,said control means including means for electrically disconnecting thebelt driving means from the humidifier comprising a connectorelectrically connected to said motor and separably connected to saidcontrol.
 3. The humidifier apparatus of claim 2 wherein said controlmeans comprises a male plug connected to said motor, a first femalesocket connected between power supply leads of the control for causingcontinuous operation of said motor upon energization of said control,with said plug connected to said first socket, and a second femalesocket connected in said control for causing operation of said motoronly when said air moving means is operated by the control with saidplug connected to said second socket.